Method for characterizing a receiver in a hearing device, hearing device and test apparatus for a hearing device

Abstract

A method for characterizing a receiver in a hearing device. The receiver has a response behavior. The receiver converts an electrical audio signal into a sound signal, generating a magnetic field. The magnetic field is measured by a magnetic field sensor. The receiver is then characterized by determining the response behavior of the receiver based on the measured magnetic field. There is also described a hearing device and a test apparatus for a hearing device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for characterizing a receiver of a hearing device, wherein the receiver is embedded in an environment and exhibits a response behavior that is influenced by the environment, the method comprising:
 converting with the receiver an electrical audio signal into a sound signal and thereby generating a magnetic field; 
 measuring the magnetic field with a magnetic field sensor; and 
 characterizing the receiver by determining the response behavior of the receiver based on the magnetic field measured by the magnetic field sensor, the response behavior being a ratio between an input power and an output power of the receiver. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the environment is determined by an installation situation of the receiver and has an element which is a component of the hearing device, wherein the component is connected to the receiver and influences the response behavior. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the environment is determined by a usage situation of the receiver, the usage situation determining the response behavior of the receiver and being a usage situation selected from the group consisting of a wearing style of the hearing device, a degree of coupling between the receiver and an ear of the user, a degree of clogging of the user's ear canal by earwax. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , which comprises comparing an actual response behavior with a desired response behavior, determining a difference between the actual response behavior and the desired response behavior, and adjusting the hearing device based on the difference. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4 , which comprises adjusting the hearing device by modifying the audio signal with a control unit, such that a difference is at least partially compensated. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , which comprises comparing an actual response behavior with a desired response behavior, to determine a difference between the actual response behavior and the desired response behavior, and outputting a warning signal depending on the difference. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , which comprises parameterizing the response behavior with an adaptive filter by measuring the magnetic field, the adaptive filter having a filter function which is parameterized by a plurality of filter parameters, generating a measurement signal based on the measured magnetic field, and feeding the measurement signal to the adaptive filter as a filter input signal. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field sensor is disposed in direct vicinity of receiver, and the magnetic field is measured directly at the receiver. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the magnetic field sensor is disposed at a distance of no more than 3 cm from the receiver. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the hearing device has a power supply and a power supply line connecting the receiver to the power supply for supplying power to the receiver, the magnetic field sensor is disposed in direct vicinity of the power supply line, and the method comprises measuring the magnetic field directly at the power supply line. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the magnetic field sensor is disposed at a distance of no more than 5 mm from the power supply line. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 1 , which comprises using a telecoil of the hearing device as the magnetic field sensor. 
     
     
       13. A hearing device, comprising:
 a receiver for converting an electrical audio signal into a sound signal, and thereby generating a magnetic field; 
 a magnetic field sensor; 
 a control unit connected to said receiver and to said magnetic field sensor, said control unit being configured: 
 to measure the magnetic field by way of said magnetic field sensor; and 
 to characterize said receiver by determining a response behavior of the receiver based on the magnetic field measured by said magnetic field sensor, the response behavior being a ratio between an output power and an input power of the receiver. 
 
     
     
       14. A test arrangement for testing a hearing device, the hearing device having a receiver for converting an electrical audio signal into a sound signal and thereby generating a magnetic field, the test arrangement comprising:
 a test apparatus having a magnetic field sensor; 
 a control unit configured: 
 to cause the magnetic field sensor to measure the magnetic field generated by the receiver; and 
 to characterize the receiver by determining a response behavior of the receiver based on the magnetic field measured by the magnetic field sensor, the response behavior being a ratio between an output power and an input power of the receiver. 
 
     
     
       15. The test arrangement according to  claim 14 , wherein said test apparatus is a telecoil shoe to be placed on the hearing device as an adapter, and said magnetic field sensor is a telecoil arranged in said telecoil shoe. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 1 , the input power is a power of the electrical audio signal and the output power is a power of the sound signal, and the response behavior is a ratio between the power of the electrical audio signal and the power of the sound signal. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the filter is a Wiener filter.